Importation of processed milk posses threat, as Nigeria spends $1.5bn annually

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The continued importation of processed milk and its products into Nigeria has been described as being economically harmful to the country’s economy.

Nigeria currently spends between $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually on importation of milk and other dairy products.

Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, the Project Coordinator Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project said to stop the trend, which he said has caused continued capital flight, there arises urgent need to invest in local milk production and processing to fast-track development of indigenous dairy industry for economic growth.

Garba made the statement while playing host to the Coordinator of Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria (RMRDC), Hambali Muhammad, at the project office in Kano.

Further in a statement, Ameen Yassar, the Project Communication Specialist said the State Agro Pastoral Development Project is partnering RMRDC and other research institutions to revitalise the economy.

Explained that the agro project will train herdsmen and vendors on basic hygiene and best practices in milk production and processing to add value to their products.

It also said the project would engage in large, and community scale, fodder production that will help herdsmen settle down without migrating seasonally in search of pastures.

“Nigeria spends between $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion on importation of milk and other dairy products yearly, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The gap between supply and demand for dairy products in Nigeria is widening by the day. Of this, we have the potential to produce enough milk that will serve our population and even export to other countries. But we must invest appropriately.

“So, under this project, we are approaching the issue from different angles. We are constructing 200 milk collection centers to supply high quality, safe and adequate raw milk required by dairy processing firms and, indeed, the general public,” Muhammad said.

He listed another areas of focus as insemination of cows and small ruminants fattening to improve the quality and quantity of milk, meat and leather products in Kano State.

The coordinator said the project is channelled to gain from the expertise of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria in the establishment of milk collection centres, as well as in the areas of meat and leather development.

The RMRDC’s Coordinator therefore  urged the management of the Agro Pastoral Development Project to use the agricultural research findings of his organisation to achieve its vision and mission.

Following an outcry after last year’s restrain on access to foreign exchange, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in February, lifted restrictions on buying of U.S. dollars to pay for milk imports for six firms, after measures introduced last year to boost local dairy production and conserve foreign currency reserves.

The firms including Nestle Nigeria, Dutch-owned FrieslandCampina, the local unit of Coca Cola bottling company HBC Chi Limited, Promasidor Nigeria and Danish-based TG Arla Dairy Products Limited, CBN had asked banks to open import documents for them while all other letters of credits were cancelled.